Snorkelling in Crete

Snorkelling in Crete

Visibility in the seas of Crete is excellent and it is regarded as
some of the best in the world. In summer the average visibility is 30
or more meters.

The water temperature in summer ranges from 22 to 27 degrees

There is a great variety of fish and sea-plants

There are no currents

The seabed in most beaches in Crete is rocky and this means a wider
variety of sealife.

Which beaches are more appropriate for snorkelling?

All beaches with a rocky seabed. Sealife in beaches with sandy seabeds
is significantly reduced

Move away from the crowds. The fewer people on a beach, the better
the snorkelling. People usually gather in sandy beaches and these are
not ideal for snorkelling. Besides, the noise created by people can drive
the fish away or make them allusive to spot

The beaches along the south coast are preferrable to those on the
north coast.

What time of the day is better for snorkelling?

It is better to go snorkelling early in the morning or late in the afternoon,
one to two hours before sunset.

Which month of the year is better for snorkelling?

September and October are usually better for snorkelling in Crete. Certain species move close
to the shores during those months. Needlefish are such a species and they
approach the shores in September for reproduction. Their predators do
the same too.

- needlefish -

Fish hide when they see me. Any tips?

Move slowly and limit noise as much as possible.

Do not move your hands.

When you notice a fish hiding in a cavity, stand still and wait. Fishes
are as curious as you and sooner or later they will come out and take
a better look at the big ugly creature, who invades their privacy.

Feed them! Take a few cookies with you in a plastic bag and break
them into small pieces into the water. Fish will smell the food and soon
they will swim all around you. Do not offer them all the food at once.
You don't want to fatten the fish, you want to keep them interested and
close-by. Smelly and oily food is more effective.

Should I bring my own mask and fins?

Yes. You cannot rent such equipment at beaches.

Are there any snorkelling tours in Crete?

Yes, there are. Most diving clubs offer such day-tours for non-divers.
It is very easy to find such a diving center at your holiday destination.
Just ask your hotel receptionist.

There are also boat day-tours to Dia island. Dia is a small
island 9 miles north of Heraklion. Its rocky seabed offers a great opportunity
for snorkelling. Several boats depart from Heraklion and Hersonissos daily

The island of Chrissi or Gaidouronissi, south of Ierapetra is
a great place for snorkelling. Boats depart from Ierapetra port every
morning.

Dangerous animals in the sea of Crete

There are some fishes and sea-animals in the seas of Crete or Greece that may cause some harm to you:

Watch for Sea Urchins on rocks

Do not play with the Moray. It may bite you if it becomes afraid of
you

Scorpion fishes and Weevers have poisonous spines that cause a lot
of pain and a severe swelling. Scorpion fishes live on rocks and Weevers
live on sandy or muddy sea bottoms. Sometimes swimmers accidentally step
on them and can be stung. If such a fish stings you, then clean the area
well, apply an elastoplast dressing to avoid secondary infection and look
for a doctor to prescribe you the right medicine. Wearing jelly shoes
or flippers may be a sensible precaution.